Wahkiakum County Eagle

Wahkiakum County Eagle
Wahkiakum County Eagle building
TypeWeekly newspaper
OwnerBrian Fleming
FounderS.G. Williams
EditorKirk McKnight
Founded1891
LanguageEnglish
CityCathlamet, Washington
Circulation1,693 (as of 2022)[1]
OCLC number17377207
Websitewaheagle.com

The Wahkiakum County Eagle is a weekly newspaper, originally founded in 1891, based in Cathlamet and covering Wahkiakum County in the U.S. state of Washington.

History

On May 14, 1891, S. G. Williams founded the Skamokawa Eagle in Skamokawa, Washington.[2] It joined the Cathlamet Gazette in the local news field in this lower Columbia River county.[3] Williams published the paper by Washington hand press until his death in 1925.[4] The issue before he passed was produced by his granddaughters, Elizabeth and Carol Johnson.[5] His 16-year-old niece then published the paper. In 1930, David F. Head of Cathlamet bought the paper; at the time it was thought to be the only newspaper in the Pacific Northwest still produced with a hand press.[2]

In 1934, the Wahkiakum Publishing Company was organized and bought he paper from Head. Stockholders included Williams' daughter Mrs. Alice Johnson and D.F. Head's son John Head. Jack Hartline leased the paper and acted as editor and publisher. The paper was renamed to The Eagle and the printing plant was moved to Cathlamet. The paper was expanded from four to eight pages, and added features like comics and national news.[6][7] In 1940, The Eagle acquired and absorbed a rival paper called the Columbia River Sun.[8] Sun former owner Paul Hendrix served as company vice president and Eagle publisher until his failing health forced him to retire.[9][10]

In April 1949, Albert Phelps and Hale Tabor, owners of the Kalama Bulletin, bought The Eagle from Hendrix.[11] Later that year Ms. Dona B. Adams was appointed editor.[12] In 1951, the Bulletin was sold and Tabor left Phelps to found the Bridgeport Chief.[13][14] In 1952, the paper was renamed to the Lower Columbia Eagle.[15] In June 1954, Phelps sold Lower Columbia Eagle to George Megrath, former editor of The Press in Petersburg, Alaska. Megrath also previously owned the Curry County Reporter.[16][17] In September 1955, Daryl "Doc" Howell of South Dakota bought the paper.[18] His wife Arlo Howell worked as editor.[19] A year later Megrath bought the Bend Mid-Statesman,[20] and then on Thanksgiving died in a car crash.[21]

In June 1958, Alan Thompson became Eagle editor. In November 1960, Thompson was appointed administrative assistant to Congresswoman-elect Julia Butler Hansen. At that time he sold the paper to Donald H. Smith in order to accept the position.[22][23] In October 1962, Thompson resigned and returned to Cathlamet to resume ownership of the Eagle.[24] In January 1963, he purchased the Cowlitz County Advocate in Castle Rock.[25] Eric Robert "Bob" Nelson was then hired as editor of the Eagle.[26] In November 1965, Thompson started the Lewis County News in Winlock, a successor to the defunct Winlock News.[27]

The Lower Columbia Eagle was renamed to the Wahkiakum County Eagle, which Nelson purchased from Thompson in December 1966.[28] Nelson's son Eric Robert "Rick" Nelson, Jr. joined his father at the Cathlamet paper in January 1979, after having worked at The Whidbey Island Record.[29] In 2006, Bob Nelson died.[26] In 2023, Rick Nelson died.[29] His son Jacob Nelson and husband Brandon Simmons took over after Rick's death. Both continued in their existing careers while managing the Eagle.[30][31] In 2026, the paper was sold to Longview businessman Brian Fleming.[32]

References

  1. ^ "The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy" (PDF). League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund. November 14, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Skamokawa Eagle Sold: Pioneer Downriver Newspaper Goes To Cathlamet Man". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. January 6, 1930. p. A5.
  3. ^ Bagwell, Steve; Stapilus, Randy (2013). New Editions: The Northwest's newspapers as they were, are, and will be. Carlton, Oregon: Ridenbaugh Press. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-945648-10-9. OCLC 861618089.
  4. ^ "Veteran Editor In Skamokawa Dies". The Tacoma Daily Ledger. September 26, 1925. p. 10.
  5. ^ "When Grandpa Passed". The Oregon Daily Journal. Portland, Oregon. September 27, 1925. p. 12.
  6. ^ Head, David F. (May 31, 1934). ""30"". The Eagle. Cathlamet, Washington. p. 1.
  7. ^ "New Corporation Moved Plant To Cathlamet". The Eagle. Cathlamet, Washington. May 31, 1934. p. 1.
  8. ^ "Cathlamet Paper To Print Last Issue". The Oregon Daily Journal. Portland, Oregon. February 18, 1940. pp. A7.
  9. ^ "In Paragraph: ..In And Around Long Beach.". Chinook Observer. Long Beach, Washington. July 5, 1940. p. 8.
  10. ^ "Paul Hendrix Dies At Home". Longview Daily News. June 12, 1958. p. 16.
  11. ^ "Weekly Paper Sold". Peninsula Daily News. Port Angeles, Washington. Associated Press. April 5, 1949. p. 7.
  12. ^ "Appointed Editor". The Capital Journal. Salem, Oregon. September 10, 1949. p. 5.
  13. ^ "Tabor to Found Newspaper at Chief Joseph Dam". Statesman Journal. Salem, Oregon. September 11, 1951. p. 4.
  14. ^ "Bridgeport To Get Paper". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. September 21, 1951. p. 6.
  15. ^ "Newspaper Sale Told By Eagle". Longview Daily News. June 18, 1954. p. 9.
  16. ^ "Former Alaskans Buy Newspaper". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. June 18, 1954. p. 5.
  17. ^ "Paper Changes Hands". The Oregon Daily Journal. Portland, Oregon. June 29, 1954. p. 6.
  18. ^ "South Dakota Man Purchases Cathlamet Paper". Longview Daily News. September 2, 1955. p. 8.
  19. ^ "Mrs. Howell Is Honored". Longview Daily News. December 7, 1963. p. 5.
  20. ^ "George Megrath Now New Owner Of Bend Weekly". The Redmond Spokesman. March 22, 1956. p. 1.
  21. ^ "Thanksgiving Crash Takes Man's Life". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. November 23, 1956. p. 1.
  22. ^ "Staff Appointed By News Congresswoman". Longview Daily News. November 26, 1960. p. 1.
  23. ^ "Rep. Julia Hansen Picks Newsman As Her Secretary". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. November 27, 1960. p. 45.
  24. ^ "Olympia Roundup". Enumclaw Courier-Herald. October 4, 1962. p. 7.
  25. ^ "Castle Rock Paper Sold". Tri-City Herald. Pasco, Washington. Associated Press. January 10, 1963. p. 30.
  26. ^ a b "Obituary | Eric R. 'Bob' Nelson". Longview Daily News. October 4, 2006. p. 8.
  27. ^ "Winlock Weekly Publication Set". Longview Daily News. November 10, 1965. p. 24.
  28. ^ "Thompson Announces Sale of Wahkiakum County Eagle". Longview Daily News. December 23, 1966. p. 2.
  29. ^ a b "Obituary | Rick Nelson". The Wahkiakum County Eagle. June 15, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  30. ^ Webb, Patrick (August 3, 2023). "Paper's new leaders pledge to expand connections - The Eagle stays in the family". The Astorian.
  31. ^ Dudley, Brier (May 11, 2023). "Locals shine in Pulitzers, Cathlamet paper in limbo, Google pays some". The Seattle Times.
  32. ^ Webb, Patrick (February 15, 2026). "New Eagle publisher relishes challenge, cites importance". Chinook Observer. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
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